Sunday Opinion: Nesting sustainable development

Phuket Gazette

PHUKET DEVELOPMENT: A sad tableau at the end of the day.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/522982-sunday-opinion-nesting-sustainable-development/page__view__findpost__p__4947475

New Year road toll rises to 165

The first three days of the so-called seven dangerous New Year holidays saw 165 people killed and 1,782 others injured in 1,605 road accidents, the Road Safety Centre announced Sunday.

The accidents were counted from Thursday to Saturday. So far, only 20 provinces saw no one killed in road accidents during the three-day period.

-- The Nation 2012-01-01

RT@mpoppel: TOKYO (BNO NEWS) -- Powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake strikes eastern Japan. No tsunami warnings so far. Quake was pretty deep.

Damage very unlikely from Japan quake, but was felt as far away as Tokyo.

New Year showers greet South

SONGKHLA, Jan 1 - Thailand's southern provinces celebrated New Year holidays with heavy downpours pounding several provinces, with twelve districts of Songkhla and eight districts in Narathiwat under water.

Hat Yai district, the commercial centre of the region, remains on alert for fear of being submerged.

Songkhla Provincial Mitigation and Disaster Prevention Office chief So Hemkul said flash floods triggered by incessant rains throughout the night until New Year's day hit many homes in seven districts: the provincial seat, Khlong Hoykong, Na Mom, Chana, Na Thawi and Sadao, as well as the outlying areas of Hat Yai.

The heaviest recorded rainfall was 300 milimetres in Sadao, with 210 and 180 milimetres in Muang and Hat Yai districts, respectively. Local authorities are evaluating the situation as to whether or not the current flooding is about to threaten the city centre in Hat Yai.

The Songkhla-based Meteorological Centre for the East Coast of the South has issued its third warning asking people living in Nakhon Si Thammarat province to brace for heavy rain, flash flood as well as run-off and swollen rivers between Jan 1-2.

In addition, the lower part of the Gulf of Thailand is also experiencing strong winds and high waves, therefore people living along the east coast should be prepared for high waves pounding the shoreline. Fishermen are advised to be cautious and small boats should stay tied ashore for the time being, according to the warning.

In the southern border province of Narathiwat, incessant rain caused flash flood in eight districts--the provincial seat, Si Sakhon, Sungai Padi, Cho-airong, Chanae, Bacho, Ruso and Sukhirin.

Some areas are under 50-70 cm deep floodwaters. Several roads are impassable to cars and residents opted to use boats instead.

Local officials and soldiers fanned out across the flood-hit areas to provide immediate relief and survey the damages. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-01-01

Thailand´s New Year Celebration with Prayers

BANGKOK, 1 January 2012 (NNT) - Just before the New Year arrived, Thais have flocked to various temples across the country to join in mass prayers with hopes of bringing in good luck and peace in 2012.

While many took parts in parties to welcome the New Year, a large number of people were seen donned white and traveled to Buddhist temples and various locations throughout Thailand to participate in mass prayers.

The New Year celebration prayers have been intended to help boost the morale of the people, following the worst flood crisis the nation has endured in decades. The ceremonies were also hoped to bring Thailand more blessings, luck and peace in 2012.

The prayers kicked off before midnight of December 31, 2011 and were carried on into the first hour of January 1, 2012.

In Bangkok, popular locations for the New Year mass prayers included Sanam Luang ceremonial ground and Wat Saket.

Elsewhere in the capital, revelers, Thai and foreign, have been joining parties in many popular destinations amid tight security.

-- NNT 2012-01-01

165 deaths reported in first three days of "seven high risk travel days"

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/522816-death-toll-reaches-94-on-second-of-seven-new-years-dangerous-days-thailand/page__view__findpost__p__4947623

12 districts in Songkhla inundated, 1 reported dead; Sadao district cut off by 2 metre high waters; 8 districts of Narathiwat are underwater/MCOT

PM Yingluck, Abhisit top list of most popular politicians: Survey

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/522995-pm-yingluck-abhisit-top-list-of-most-popular-politicians-survey/page__view__findpost__p__4947820

Narathiwat declares 8 districts disaster zones from flooding, orders each to help flood victims as water levels keep increasing & expanding/MCOT

RT@veen_NT: Flooded Hat Yai : photo taken in the afternoon by The Nation's Charoon Thongnualhttp://t.co/D3QMJ7qI

to continue:

Thailand Live Monday 2 Jan 2012

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